What Is a Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)?

The Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) is responsible for designing, implementing, and testing the firm’s compliance policies, conducting the annual compliance review, and serving as the firm’s primary point of contact during regulatory examinations. The role can be filled by an owner, a dedicated employee, or an outsourced compliance consultant, depending on the firm’s size — smaller firms frequently use outside CCOs or compliance consultants rather than a full-time in-house hire.

Regulators expect the CCO to have sufficient authority, seniority, and resources within the firm to actually enforce compliance policies, not just document them. A CCO title without real authority or bandwidth is itself something examiners look for.